Uber aims to add 100,000 new drivers in Malaysia

Uber Malaysia is targeting to add 100,000 new drivers for
2016 despite the rising pressure from Malaysia's taxi companies.

As reported by The
Star Online, the general manager of Uber Malaysia, Leon Foong mentioned
this notion would benefit many to increase their incomes and decrease their
dependence on personal vehicles in this harsh economy.

Uber has 60,000 registered driving partners in Malaysia so
far, though not all of them are active.

"These part-time opportunities just make a lot of sense
in terms of increasing incomes while serving people who need rides," he
tells The Star Online.

“We plan to create 100,000 new flexible economic
opportunities in Malaysia to meet the economic challenges that Malaysians
face,” he said. “There are 7 million people living in the Klang Valley, so
we’re just getting started,” he added.

Foong revealed that Uber planned to launch their new
products this year to “maximise time and seat efficiency”.

Uber was founded in 2009 and only reached Malaysia two years
ago but taxi drivers protest against the service as they claimed it affects
their livelihood as Uber usually charges their customers a lower fare than
taxis.

The government and taxi companies have raised questions
regarding Uber's legality as they do not pay taxes or licensing fees and those
opposed to Uber also argued that the unlicensed drivers may be a safety hazard
to passengers.

However, a Land and Public Transport Commission (SPAD)
survey showed that 76.4% of 9,026 respondents preferred Uber and GrabCar over
regular taxis in the country.

The Klang Valley Taxi Drivers Action Committee recently
filed an application for a court injunction at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur
to stop the government's alleged plans to legalise Uber and GrabCar services.

The chairman Zailani Isa Usuluddin warned that regular taxi
drivers may be driven out of business if the government legalizes these
services as his members suffered a 60% drop in business ever since the
introduction of Uber and GrabCar.